As National Dog Day Approaches, Here's Why We Love Our Dogs

Miss a chance to wax poetically about our dogs? Couldn't be us.

National Dog Day is Aug. 26, and it also marks Daily Paws' third birthday. We've finally made it out of the terrible twos. Woo!

To commemorate the occasion, we could think of nothing better than to tell you why we love our dogs so much. Some are still with us and others have passed on, but each one of them is worthy of celebration for the unmatched love and joy they've given us over the years.

Enjoy:

Moose

Growing up, we had a 250-pound English mastiff named Moose. He was truly a gentle giant; he was extremely affectionate and also extremely lazy. He would wag his tail so hard that we had to move furniture out of the entryway so he wouldn’t hurt himself. He’d jump up on the couch, regardless of whether there was room for him, and sit right on your lap, which meant you weren’t going anywhere until he decided to move. He also loved laying outside in the sun so much that we used to be late for school because he wouldn’t come inside. We had to bribe him with a trail of cheese just to get him to stand up from his spot in the sunbeam.

-Allie Giordano, general manager

Chloe and Rhyme

Chloe was my first dog. She appeared outside my college apartment at about 8 weeks old, and I immediately fell in love. Chloe looked like a black Labrador retriever mix, and she had the energy to match. I was young and knew nothing about dogs, but Chloe showed me all the mayhem that she could stir up. She destroyed everything from candles to carpets. She broke into her dog food containers and surfed the counters—once she even ate a whole chocolate cake (that was an interesting vet visit). Chloe taught me how to truly care for a dog. I learned how to provide her with the best training, socialization, and exercise to keep her happy. She paid me back with unwavering loyalty and intense affection until she passed at the age of 17. Other amazing dogs came and went throughout Chloe's life (mostly as foster pets), but the bond I had with Chloe was unparalleled. That is, until I met Rhyme.

Rhyme found me just three days after Chloe died. By now, I was a vet tech and she was at my clinic for heartworm treatment. We locked eyes, and I swear she imprinted on me. It turns out a local dog rescue was fostering her, and I adopted her two weeks later. Rhyme was nearly the opposite of her predecessor. She was an affectionate pit bull mix but also nervous and insecure. She seemed to have this pent-up energy she was afraid to let out. With a few months of bonding, training, and socialization, she became a confident, happy dog. A couple of years later, we became an animal-assisted therapy team, and Rhyme loved it. There's just something about the way she makes eye contact and connects with people that I felt the need to share with the world. Rhyme lights up when kids are in the room. We visited schools and taught kids about dog safety and interaction. She helped kids, and adults, get over their fear of dogs. Rhyme is retired now, but she still loves to meet new people and brighten their lives.

-Jenna Stregowski, pet health and behavior editor

Millie, Finn, and Izzie

After years of begging my parents for a dog, we finally brought home a 3-pound shih tzu puppy we named Izzie (inspired by Grey’s Anatomy) when I was 16. She instantly lit up our house with her playful antics and adorable little face, and she taught me a lot of responsibility right away with potty breaks in the middle of the night. All our friends and family became obsessed with her, and it was like she was a member of everyone’s family, not just ours. We had to say goodbye to her a year ago, and my parents’ house will never feel the same without her greeting me at the door.

My current dogs, Millie and Finn, are two of the biggest joys in my life. Nothing is better than coming home after a long day at work (or just a short walk to the mailbox) to the cacophony of excited squeals and whimpers and wagging tails hitting the walls. Seeing their excitement on simple walks around the neighborhood or adventurous hikes in nature puts an instant smile on my face and reminds me to slow down and enjoy the little things in our daily lives. My life would be a lot lonelier without their sweet faces, and I’m so lucky to call them mine.

-Abbie Harrison, associate editorial director

Riley

My dog Riley's antics are what I remember most about her. She was probably just as silly as many other dogs, but a smart poodle against overmatched humans yields plenty of fond memories.

An accomplished thief, she stool barbecued chicken off plates; pork tenderloins out of slow cookers; and so many pairs of underwear—including some that belonged to our guests. Her height allowed her to place her front paws on countertops and steal whatever she could get her mouth on. Important dishes lived in the microwave.

Her stare was unmatched. When begging—which was often—she would look deep into your eyes with her head on your leg. It was very effective, but not as unnerving as when she would bat open half-closed doors and simply stare at you from the doorway, uninterested in actually venturing inside. What a weirdo.

To get her evening dental treat, she would perform a series of three leaps into our kitchen at the direction of my mom, who would cheer for her enthusiastically. She would return to the living room with a very proud trot, parading her treat.

Most importantly, she was simply a good dog who loved us. She was a constant in my life for 15 years, watching me grow from gangly high schooler into a slightly less gangly "professional." I miss her terribly.

—Austin Cannon, editor

Read the original article on dailypaws.